Two Fat Ladies

So we reach run 88.  It was an evening run with Gaz and Frank, and we extended it to include both Friezland Lane , Top Mossley and up through Lydgate, heading back down through Greenfield and into Uppermill via the Bridle path.  At the start, I felt sluggish if truth be told.  I dropped back to a comfortable pace, however shot past them post desperate for somewhere to stop for a wee.  A van in the car park of the Farrah's Arms was my salvation, and we ended on 8.6 miles.

We're adding more miles in the run up to the Great North, so I'll be out with them again on Thursday, and with Pat tomorrow night.

Yesterday's run - 6.2 miles
Today's - 8.6 miles

I was thinking today - what am I going to celebrate with?  A glass of fizz? An ice-cold beer?

If I could transport The Diggle Hotel to South Shields, I'd really like one of these:

Sponsorship Update

I'm really pleased to say that I have hit £1,200 on my "100runs4jdrf" JustGiving page.  Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.  My target is £2,000 and to reach £1,200 at this stage is brilliant news.

Everyone who donates via the JustGiving page should automatically receive a thank-you and acknowledgment, I've also made space to mention them on this blog, however I've had more donations since I last did this, so to bring it up to date I'd like to thank:

Yogita Mistry, June Roebuck, Kirsty Jones, Lucy Howard, Laura Brown, Fran Benson, Gareth and Nicky Dean, Jaci Morton and Jacqui Stephenson-Kirkbride.

Thank you!

My sister gets married next Saturday, where I am due to undertake the role of Master of Ceremonies.  Lucy and Mike have made a very touching and generous way of acknowledging the 100 runs challenge on their big day and I'm very humbled by such a gesture.  When the wine is flowing, who knows? I may enlist more runners to join me the day after for run number 93...

Tameside 10K

Run 86 was an organised race - and a very well executed one by race organisers Kiwi Classic Events (kiwiclassicevents@gmail.com).  1000 places were on offer, although I don't think all these were filled, with a large proportion of entrants signing up on the day.  Registration took place at the Red House public house, and, after we were off, we made our way up towards Hartshead Pike (pictured above), taking in a good 3K of climbing until the fast decent (except the last km) for the remainder of the race.

Just after the drinks station at the halfway point, I was over taken by another runner, Dave who asked "Which run are you on now?" - he had been following the blog since I had posted the link on the running forum "Take to the streets".  He offered some words of encouragement, which were very much appreciated, so many thanks Dave.

Descending past Knowle Farm I looked down at my watch and noticed I was recording a 5m10sec pace, which spurred me on.  Since Dave overtook me at the halfway mark, I had managed to keep him in my sights as he was setting a great pace, however I had breathing space as there was a gap between me and whoever was trailing me. 

I'm not sure the exact time, somewhere between 49m and 50m, however I'm pleased with the run, the fact that I kept at a good, low pace, which is encouraging with two weeks to go until the last run of the challenge and a half marathon at that.  The goody bag at the end had a great hi-viz Ronhill technical t-shirt, which I shall wear when the dark nights start drawing in.

Post race with 100 runs t-shirt by A3 Sports

So thanks to Kiwi Classic Events for hosting the race, Dave for enthusing about my challenge, and Gaz for driving there and back and for setting a great pace, despite not getting much sleep last night - It was a great race.  Onwards now for another 13 10K's until the Bupa Great North Run.  Proud to dedicate the run to Jane and Tim.

Today's run is dedicated to Jane Grove and her partner Tim

Jane is a good friend of my sister, Lucy and she has been very encouraging and supportive with my challenge.  Jane ran in the 10K in Portsmouth in July and will be running in the Great South Run in October for Diabetes UK. Jane told me:

"Tim was diagnosed just a year ago with type 1 at the age of 41 and is still very much up and down with keeping it under control. Luckily he seems most of the time to get it right but it is something we have to think about all the time, heaven only knows how you manage with your son! Even just a change of routine like our holiday has an impact on blood sugar levels! Funny how our holiday brought it home to me how much diabetes can affect daily living."

It is pretty rare to be diagnosed with type 1 at Tim's age and as anyone living with type-1 will tell you, it's a  life-changing diagnosis.  I read a statistic that out of around £50million spent on raising awareness of Diabetes, only £6 million was allocated to type-1.
Jane and Tim are due to be married on New Year's Eve.  I look forward to meeting them at Lucy's wedding next Saturday.

Donate to Jane's fundraising at: http://www.diabeteschallenge.org.uk/challenge/janegrove10milechallenge

In a couple of hours, I'll be shuffling up to the start line of the Tameside 10K for run number 86. 
I am proud to dedicate today's run to Jane and Tim.

Thank you to A3 Sports!

I'd like to say a massive thank you to Beth Marr and all at the fantastic A3 Sports in Liphook.  Beth was the first to respond to my appeal for sports apparel/donations and immediately set about making a set of t-shirts advertising the "100 runs challenge" with the JDRF logo on both front and back.

These had been sent over a month ago, but didn't reach me.  I phoned Beth at the shop yesterday to let her know that the business had been given a plug in the article that appeared in Running Fitness magazine.  When I explained I hadn't received them, she promised to send me a couple in the post.  That she did.  They (five t-shirts) arrived this morning by special delivery and I'm really grateful to Beth for this.  Where many multi-national sports chains either didn't reply or said "no", the small Independent store in the village where I grew up decided my challenge was worth supporting.

Frank, Gaz and I will each wear one tomorrow at the Tameside 10K.

Visit their website at: www.a3sportsshop.co.uk/

Running partner for number 99

Run 85 completed.  I chose the Diggle-Dobcross-Scouthead loop, and at 6.7 miles it's good to get it over with as early as possible on the weekend.  When I got back from the run, Jake was asking about what is going to happen on run 99.  I haven't given it much thought to tell you the truth, except I am proposing to do the bare minimum in preparation for the Great North the day after.

However since noticing his picture in Running Fitness magazine, it seems Jake has taken a keen interest in the runs and asked "You know when you do your 99th run? Well can I run some of it with you?" When I said, yes, I would really like that, he replied "Well, I'm just considering it...for now"

I know I have spoken about many highs that this challenged has given me, however this must be up there with the best of them.  It'll be great to run back down the Boat Lane and meet Jake halfway down and run together for the last few hundred yards.  The last time we ran together was in the Great Manchester Mini Run at Man City's Stadium, I really enjoyed it - so I'm looking forward to running down the Boat Lane towards home with the pair of us in our JDRF vests.

The challenge reaches national media

As I motor towards that magic number 100, I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some kind support that has been offered in the past week.

First of all, a work colleague, Paul Moult popped over to see me on my first day back in the office on Tuesday, and promptly presented me with a small plastic cup full of coins.  This was the proceeds of a cake sale he arranged on the spot whilst I was away, to test out the public's reaction to his wife Amanda's home-made cupcakes.  Paul brought in the cakes as a dry-run before selling a larger batch on the next extra dress down day they are holding to raise money for the JDRF on 14th September.  Amanda offered a variety of flavours: strawberry candy cake, chocolate orange and flying saucer with crackle candy butter cream.
They all sound very nice and I'd like to thank Amanda for donating the cakes - her website for this sideline is
www.incredible-edibles-rochdale.webeden.co.uk

I'd like to thank Gaz and Frank for another good set of runs, where the pace has been raised, and we'll get to see if this has had any effect on our performance this Sunday when we all will be competing in the Tameside 10K.  I'll be wearing the "Team Pingu" vest, of course.  Gaz had his cast removed today, to be replaced by a splint so he can perform in this Sunday's race and the Great North on the 18th.  I'll be dedicating this Sunday's race to Jane Grove and her Husband, who was recently diagnosed with T1 - more details on Sunday's blog entry.

Gaz, on the last run with that cast...

Many Thanks to Beth Marr at A3 Sports in Liphook, who had sent up a batch of her specially designed t-shirts (which somehow didn't reach me) so she is going to get a couple up to me in time for the GNR.  I'll drop her in something nice when we are down next week for my sister's wedding (getting excited!).

Lastly a big thank-you to Tina Chantrey, who picked up on my challenge and declared me an "Inspirational Runner", and dedicated a page on the challenge in the latest issue of "Running Fitness" magazine.  Thanks Tina - anything to raise awareness of JDRF and Type 1 Diabetes.  My dear old Mum rushed out to get a copy of the magazine and left a lovely message of support, and good old Dad has done a sterling job to spread the word of the challenge, which is very much appreciated.

Weds - 6.2 miles
Thurs - 6.7 miles
Fri - 6.3 miles

Onwards, and indeed upwards...